What is Runaway Helpline?
How can I get in touch?
I’m having problems getting in touch with you. Can you help?
How can you help me?
Will you tell my family or carer where I am?
What do I need to tell you about myself for you to help?
How do I hide your webpage?
I want to run away, can you help?
I want to leave home but I’m under 16.

What is Runaway Helpline?

Runaway Helpline is a national, free, confidential service, provided by the charity Missing People, for anyone who has run away from home or care, or been forced to leave home. Whether you have run away from home because of an argument, bullying, abuse or you’re unhappy. Sometimes you just want to get some space. Runaway Helpline is here for you day or night.

How can I get in touch?

• By phone on 116 000
• Email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• and text on 116 000

You can call, email or text us. However you choose to contact us, it is free, confidential and we can’t trace you.

If you send us a text or email we will do everything we can to reply to you as soon as possible. We try to respond to texts within 1 hour and to emails within 2 hours.

I’m having problems getting in touch with you. Can you help?

Here are a few tips:

• Some mobile phones will not let you reply to a Runaway Helpline text. If this happens we know it’s frustrating. Please start a new text to 116 000.
• When Runaway Helpline texts you, it will show up on your phone as 116 000. If you don’t want anyone else to know you are in touch with us either delete the message or give our number a new name in your address book.
• Texts to Runaway Helpline are free from the following providers and you are able to text with no credit: Vodafone, O2, Three, and Orange. 
• We’re sorry but you are not able to text from T-Mobile if you have zero credit (£0.00)
• Calls are free to the Runaway Helpline from all mobile phone providers and telephone boxes.
• We’re sorry but the Message Home and Runaway Helpline Email services can’t receive email attachments.

How can you help me?

At Runaway Helpline we don’t judge you or tell you what to do. We are here to help you talk through what has happened to you and to explore options of how we can help.  

Some of the ways we can help:

1. We are here to listen to you.
2. We can pass a message for you to someone who is able to make you safe.
3. We can connect you on a 3-way call whilst we are on the line as well so we can help you talk about your situation.
4. We can tell you if you’ve been reported missing if that’s worrying you.
5. We can talk through your options and try to help you find somewhere safe.

Will you tell my family or carer where I am?  

We don’t need to know where you are to help you and we only know the information that you tell us.  We will work with you to help you decide what will make you safe.

What do I need to tell you about myself for you to help?

You can tell us as much or as little as you want. If you want us to contact someone on your behalf they need to be over 17. Some information we may ask for is your name and ID to prove who you are. Sometimes we might need to know what town you are in and your family’s name and number to pass on a message.

How do I hide your webpage?

Click here for step-by-step instructions.

I want to run away, can you help?

If something is happening in your life that is making you feel like you want to run away you can contact us at any time.

I want to leave home but I’m under 16.

In England you can’t legally leave home without your parent’s or carer’s consent until you are 16. Get in touch and we will talk this through with you.